Means and methods of erecting storage bins



I March 1, 1966 P. A. KONZAK MEANS AND METHODS OF ERECTING STORAGE BINS Filed Sept. 5, 1965 FIG.2.

3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR efier Konzak March 1, 1966 P. A. KONZAK MEANS AND METHODS OF ERECTING STORAGE BlNS Filed Sept. 5, 1963 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR em 5mm March 1, 1966 P. A. KONZAK MEANS AND METHODS OF ERECTING STORAGE BINS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 5. 1963 FIG INVENTOR Peter A. Konzak United States Patent 3,237,295 MEANS AND METHODS OF ERECTING STORAGE BINS Peter A. Konzak, Brinsmade, N. Dak. Filed Sept. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 306,852 9 Claims. (Cl. 29-429) The present invention relates to the construction of grain storage bins and to novel means and method of erecting same.

The accumulation of surplus grain stocks in warehouses has reached a point where a serious problem of storage has arisen, it being essential for farmers to secure economical and suitable storage facilities to handle the produced grain. In this view attention has been directed to the provision of a type of storage unit that can be erected as need at selected locations, and retained for as long a time as desired. It is moreover desirable that bins of aforesaid type be capable of construction with a minimum of time and labor, that they be capable of being readily assembled or dissembled, stored and moved, and that they be versatile and adaptable to various storage needs.

The present invention contemplates more particularly small grain storage bins formed of light galvanized preferably corrugated sheet metal, which are adapted to assembly by superimposing rings upon one another to form walls of cylindrical shape.

It is an object of the present invention to provide novel means for setting up such grain bins, and to facilitate the work in transporting and assembling same in such a Way as to minimize the requirements for manhours of labor.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of an economical and relatively uncomplicated method using light equipment which can be supplemented by tools ordinarily available on the farm; and to provide means whereby even one man can set up the structure rather than resorting to the necessity of con tracting out the work.

Another object of the invention is to avoid methods of construction requiring transportation of heavy construction machinery such as cranes and the like. According to the present invention the farmer can bring in with the construction materials, all of the necessary construction equipment which latter can be supplied by the dealer on a loan or lease basis.

Further advantages of the invention will become evident in the course of the following description.

Bins of a type amenable to the hereinafter described novel improvements, and adaptable to the storage of grain, are known, these being of general cylindrical shape topped by a cupola or root and resting on a base somewhat elevated to avoid ground moisture. Beginning with a bin of this general type: as a first step in the process of construction according to the present invention, the roof which preferably will be composed of triangular shaped sections, will be assembled and mounted on the first ring of the wall, that is, on the ring which will be located in the topmost position in the structure, the ring having been assembled from segments which together constitute the circumferential wall of the ring. These segments may be joined by conventional fastening means such as bolts.

The construction is facilitated when there is provided a harness composed of small guage link chain fitted over the roof member and including depending lengths of chain the latter being sufficient to serve for suspending rings at successive heights and hence having a total length which will reach to approximately the height of the completed building.

In accordance with the present invention, a collar or band is provided which is adapted to be fitted to the rings in the structure. This band which may be made of metal, is formed in segments fastened together by joining means such as bolts. Initially the assembled band which has an inner diameter approaching that of the outer diameter of the wall, will fit loosely around the ring. At this stage it is helpful in order to maintain the band in the desired horizontal position to attach the chain harness thereto at several circumferential points. With band so suspended the operator will be free to tighten the band and grip the ring firmly thereby. Hook means which may be located on the upper edge of the band are suitable for attaching .the band at various points along the length of the dependent chain lengths. In brief the construction band being contractable and of such size that when placed around a ring it can be drawn into tight contact therewith, it thereupon becomes a lifting agent capable of being engaged with and detached from the ring as desired.

In the furtherance of this operation a stiffening brace may be provided which when placed properly inside the ring will counteract the concentric force of the band on the ring and which will thus coact with the band in order to maintain the symmetrical shape of the light metal walls of the ring, with a view to aligning same with subsequently incorporated ring elements.

The aforesaid assembled elements, namely the roof, ring, and brace, also preferably with the harness in place over the entirety, are now elevated as a unit to a height above the foundation sufiicient to admit the placement of a second section thereunder. The lifting of the structure may be accomplished by convention means such as a Handyman jack or by special means. Ordinarily the lifting may be accomplished manually.

Having completed the construction of the first and second rings, it will be desirable to lower the band to grip the lower ring. In preparation for this step, and to release the preoccupation of the jacks a plurality, preferably three, piers or standards are provided upon which the structure may rest. These standards are of extensible type in order to maintain the structure at the desired height above the foundation, and may for example consist of two telescoping members, provided with means for adjusting the same at various heights. The band having engaged and remaining supported thereby, the jack or jacks may be removed in preparation for the next step.

With the roof and first ring in elevated position, the second ring may be thereunder assembled in a manner substantially the same as that of the first. The upper and lower rings so far assembled are suitably attached at their adjacent edges thereof so as to form one ring having substantially twice the height of either singly. The disengaged band thereupon may be lowered to a convenient level around the second ring, with the aid of the chain harness if desired, and the so far completed structure raised the distance necessary for admission of one more ring. These steps are repeated until all of the rings are assembled, the last applied ring resting on the foundation.

For temporary purposes a foundation may be constructed by building a ring of concrete blocks, filling the enclosed space with earth, and covering the latter with sheet metal. If a permanent foundation is desired, the base may consist of a concrete slab of suitable thickness.

Whereas the invention is pointed out with particularity in the subjoined claims, for better understanding thereof and to facilitate practice thereof, a specific embodiment will now be described and illustrated:

Referring to the drawings:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a storage bin in process of construction according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of a completed storage bin according to the invention.

FIG. 3 is a detail view of the chain engaging means according to the invention.

FIG. 4 is a plan view of a storage bin according to FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a view partly in section taken along line 55 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a detail showing the support engaging means for the band as shown in FIGS. 1, 4, and 5.

FIG. 1 shows a bin 10 in process of construction. At this stage the first ring 1441 together with the cupola roof 16 has been assembled and elevated, and the second tier or ring 14b is in process of construction.

As most clearly shown in FIG. 5, ring 14a is composed of four curved segments 12a, 12d, 12g, and 12 which are fastened together by bolts 4-2. Each section may be formed of corrugated weather resistant metal.

Superimposed on ring 14a is the conical cap or cupola roof 16 which is composed of a plurality of triangular plates.

In the position illustrated in FIG. 1, the roof and ring 14a have been elevated to position by the lifting force of jack 30. This step may be carried out as follows. Ring 14a having been assembled with the cupola, and resting on the foundation 40, chain harness 18 has been placed thereover. Then band segments 22, 24, and 26 were brought up around ring 14a and linked together by means of bolts 42, bracing means 28 meanwhile having been placed in the position shown in FIG. 5 in the manner hereinafter described.

By means of hooks 32, chain portions 34 and 36 are engaged as for example shown in FIG. 3, with the band 20 as yet untightened, raised to the position relative to ring 14a, shown in FIG. 1. It will be understood that there are additional hooks, not illustrated, 20 on the side opposite hooks 32. The band at this stage being mechanically supported the operator is free to make the necessary adjustments to contract the band 20 to a proper degree of tightness around ring 14a.

Whereas the sequence of steps may be varied to some extent at the option of the builder, following the tightening of the band the jack 30 may be engaged with the band by means of one of the outstanding shoulders 44 provided for the purpose. The band and therein gripped structure may now be raised as a unit for a sufiicient height to admit the assembly of ring 14b thereunder.

Prior however to beginning of ring 14!), the standards 38 may be emplaced. These latter consist essentially of telescoping members 4-6 and 48 each being provided with a series of holes adapted to receive pins Sit and 52 as shown. The purpose of these standards is to cooperate with the jack 30, so that when the band is raised to selected height it can be set in position and the jack released therefrom. The band and upper ring now being supported by the standards of which there preferable are three, substantially equispaced about the circumference thereof, the assembly of the next tier 14b thereunder may be completed.

The upper member 48 of the telescoping members of the standard is received in a vertical channel formed by the sides of angle irons 54-54. The latter are provided with cooperating holes to receive pin 52. The lower member 46 is provided with a footing 62 which rests on the ground or on the foundation.

In FIG. 5 there is shown a bracing means 28 having the function of strengthening the ring 14a and subsequent rings against the pressure and possible deforming effect of band 20. This brace is characterized by having a plurality of radial arms 56 which may be made of metal rod or pipe material. These arms are preferably threaded into flat terminal foot portions 58-58 and force the ilatter in outward direction against the inner surface of the walls of ring 14a. If desired threaded couplings or turnbuckles (not shown) may be provided whereby the length of arms 56 may be varied, to accommodate for small variations in the diameter of the rings. A clamping means 69 having a cam action is provided to lock the brace in position.

Having described a specific embodiment, what I claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is as follows:

1. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various selected heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band.

2. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various selected heights, means for engaging said supporting means with said band, and means for lifting said band together with said ring element to said position and height.

3. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, flexible means for suspending said band in various positions, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band.

4. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, flexible means for suspending said band in various positions, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said {band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band, said supporting means comprising vertically positioned telescoping members.

5. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, flexible means for suspending said band in Various positions, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various heights, and means for engaging said supporting means With said band, said supporting means comprising vertically positioned telescoping members, said telescoping members being provided with means for fixing said members at various extended positions.

6. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a band adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, flexible means for suspending said band in various positions, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring elements in a substantially horizontal position at various heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band, said supporting means comprising vertically positioned telescoping members, said support engaging means being engageable with the upper part of said telescoping members at various positions thereon.

7. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of like superimposed corrugated sheet metal ring elements and a roof element, a metal band having a height less than the width of said ring elements, and adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, a chain harness suspendable from the roof of said bin, hook means on said band for engaging said chain harness and for suspending said band in various positions, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band.

8. A method for constructing a grain storage bin having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, comprising assembling a first ring element, placing a band around said ring element, concent-rically tightening said band into firm contact with said ring element, lifting said band together with said ring element to a substantially horizontal position, temporarily supporting said band and said ring element in said position, assembling a second ring element with said first ring element, attaching said second ring element to said first ring element, loosening said band and lowering same to position it around said second ring element, concentricaly tightening said band into firm contact with said second ring element, lifting said band together with said ring elements to a substantial-1y horizontal position, repeating the aforesaid steps as necessary to complete the constructing of the Walls of said bin.

9. In equipment for constructing grain storage bins having walls composed of a series of superimposed sheet metal ring elements, a means adapted to be fitted in succession around the periphery of each of a number of ring elements corresponding to said series, means for concentrically tightening said band into firm contact with a ring element, supporting means for supporting said band together with said ring element in a substantially horizontal position at various selected heights, and means for engaging said supporting means with said band.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,746,137 5/1956 Wiggins 29429 2,794,242 6/1957 Evers et a1. 29-429 2,993,679 7/1961 Morgan 254--89 3,055,090 9/1962 Murphy 29 200 WHITMORE A. WILTZ, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN EQUIPMENT FOR CONSTRUCTING GRAIN STORAGE BINS HAVING WALLS COMPOSED OF A SERIES OF SUPERIMPOSED SHEET METAL RING ELEMENTS, A BAND ADAPTED TO BE FITTED IN SUCCESSION AROUND THE PERIPHERY OF EACH OF A NUMBER OF RING ELEMENTS CORRESPONDING TO SAID SERIES, MEANS FOR CONCENTRICALLY TIGHTENING SAID BAND INTO FIRM CONTACT WITH A RING ELEMENT, SUPPORTING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING SAID BAND TOGETHER WITH SAID RING ELEMENTS IN A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION AT VARIATION SELECTED HEIGHTS, AND MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID SUPPORTING MEANS WITH SAID BAND.
 8. A METHOD FOR CONSTRUCTING A GRAIN STORAGE BIN HAVING WALL COMPOSED OF SERIES OF SUPERIMPOSED SHEET METAL RING ELEMENTS, COMPRISING ASSEMBLING A FIRST RING ELEMENT, PLACING A BAND AROUND SAID RING ELEMENT, CONCENTRICALLY TIGHTENING SAID BAND INTO FIRM CONTACT WITH SAID RING ELEMENT, LIFTING SAID BAND TOGETHER WITH SAID RING ELEMENT TO A SUBSTANTIALLY HORIZONTAL POSITION, TEMPORARILY 